CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT

Whose Line Is It, Anyway? funnyman Wayne Brady has been named host of this year's Miss America Pageant, airing Sept. 21 on ABC. He's the first black emcee in the pageant's 81-year history. "My selection as host is a defining moment," Brady says, "as I will be able to proudly represent the African-American community for the first time in the telecast's history." ABC no doubt hopes the high-profile gig will give a boost to the comedian's new daytime variety show, The Wayne Brady Show, which debuts Sept. 2 on, yep, ABC.